Acoustic pressure shock waves used for meat processing

Abstract

Methods for treating animal carcasses prior to processing for meat consumption include applying acoustic pressure shock waves to an animal carcass to reduce contaminants on the carcass for improved safety when distributed as meat.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of treating an animal carcass comprising
 providing an animal carcass in a containment with an acoustic pressure shock wave applicator operatively coupled to the containment, 
 applying shock waves from the acoustic pressure shock wave applicator having a reflector adjacent to an acoustic pressure shock wave generating device to the carcass sufficient to reduce contaminants on the carcass, wherein
 the shock wave applicator includes a membrane that contains liquid or gas in a cavity of the shock wave applicator that includes the reflector and shock wave generating device; 
 the shock waves have a compressive phase producing high compressive pressure followed by a tensile phase; and 
 the shock waves are applied at an angle of from 20° to 70° relative to the surface of the carcass; and 
 
 processing the carcass following application of shock waves into meat for consumption. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying the shock waves through air or through a liquid mist in the containment to the carcass. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising applying the shock waves with at least one of swiveling and translational motion of the shock wave applicator. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying the shock waves to the carcass submerged in liquid in the containment. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the shock wave generating device includes at least one of an electrohydraulic device, piezoelectric device and electromagnetic device and the reflector is selected from the group consisting of an ellipsoidal reflector, parabolic reflector, spherical reflector and segmental reflector. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the shock wave generating device includes at least one of an electrohydraulic device, piezoelectric device and electromagnetic device and the reflector is selected from the group consisting of an ellipsoidal reflector, parabolic reflector, spherical reflector and segmental reflector. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising applying the shock waves with at least one of swiveling and translational motion of the shock wave applicator. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying the shock waves with at least one of swiveling and translational motion of the shock wave applicator. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising causing cavitation bubbles at the surface of the carcass with shock waves propagated in liquid. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the shock wave generating device includes at least one of an electrohydraulic device, piezoelectric device and electromagnetic device and the reflector is selected from the group consisting of an ellipsoidal reflector, parabolic reflector, spherical reflector and segmental reflector. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising applying shock waves to the carcass with swiveling motion of the shock wave applicator. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the shock wave generating device includes a laser device. 
     
     
       13. A method of treating a plurality of animal carcasses comprising
 providing each of a plurality of animal carcasses coupled to a conveyor system into a respective containment with multiple acoustic pressure shock wave applicators operatively coupled to the respective containment, wherein each of the multiple shock wave applicators includes a reflector adjacent a shock wave generating device within a cavity of the applicator covered by a membrane and containing a liquid or gas, 
 applying shock waves having a compressive phase producing high compressive pressure followed by a tensile phase from each applicator of the multiple acoustic pressure shock wave applicators to each carcass at an angle of from 20° to 70° relative to the surface of the respective carcass and sufficient to reduce contaminants on the respective carcass, and 
 processing each carcass following application of shock waves into meat for consumption. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising applying the shock waves through air or through a liquid mist to each respective carcass in a respective containment. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising applying the shock waves to each respective carcass submerged in liquid in a respective containment. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 13 , wherein for each applicator of the multiple shock wave applicators the shock wave generating device includes at least one of an electrohydraulic device, laser device, piezoelectric device and electromagnetic device and the reflector is selected from the group consisting of an ellipsoidal reflector, parabolic reflector, spherical reflector and segmental reflector. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein at least one applicator of the multiple shock wave applicators undergoes at least one of translational and swivel motion in applying the shock waves. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16 , wherein shock waves propagated through liquid from each applicator of the multiple shock wave applicators cause cavitation bubbles at the surface of the carcass. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising automatically inspecting a respective carcass with an inspection module following applying of the shock waves to assess the cleanliness of the respective carcass. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the shock waves from each applicator of the multiple pressure shock wave applicators are applied through a liquid drape to a respective carcass. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , wherein each reflector of each applicator of the multiple pressure shock wave applicators applying shock waves through a liquid drape includes a parabolic reflector.